Civvies

Cliff had been knocked around in the exercise yard, his lip was swollen, and he felt exhausted. Seeing Shirley had really upset him. The baby was showing now, and he knew her Dad had gone apeshit, and all the wedding plans had been cancelled. Well, there would be one person who was pleased, Shirley's Dad, he'd never liked Cliff, now he must be rubbing his hands together, saying to poor Shirley, 'I told you so, what did I tell you…'

Cliff wrote copious letters, every spare moment he had, he wrote to Shirley, explaining over and over that it was all a terrible mistake, that he would be out and they could still get married, she would have the baby and they would be okay. He would get a decent job, he would provide, he would make it, and Shirley had promised to stay with him, no matter what her father said. She knew he would be out in time for the baby, and even joked in her letters that poor Norma would then have to take her wedding dress in, as she would be back in shape.

Cliff wrote to his mother and father, his brothers and sisters, he wrote to everyone he could think of, desperate for everyone to know that it was all a terrible mistake. Hunched on his bunk, hardly able to see the page in the darkness, he started another letter, one he had begun over and over. It was to Frank Dillon, an attempt to make him understand why he had to tell the law about Newman, that he knew he should have kept his mouth shut, knew that Dillon was sorting everything out, but he had just been unable to keep quiet. The letter was written, rewritten and torn up time after time. He had sent round a note to Harry, and it had really hurt him when it had been returned. Dillon had not looked at him, or spoken to him, and that had hurt, he had always believed Frank Dillon was his friend, his best friend, and he tried one more time to put into words what he felt.

'Dear Frank, Please don't think any the worse of me, I only did what I felt was the best for all of us. I know we'll get out, and I reckon we can still make the business work. We are i

The truth was, Cliff was the only true i

CHAPTER 43

'Stand up the three of you.'

The judge pushed his gold-rimmed bi-focals more firmly onto his nose, eyes downcast on the papers before him. He looked up at the men in the dock. The court waited. The stenographer settled herself, hands poised over the keys. From outside, the faint hum of traffic from Camberwell New Road. Somebody coughed, and the judge waited a moment longer. Then he began.

'You have all been convicted after a long and difficult trial of a serious conspiracy to steal. You are also convicted of possession of a firearm for use in co

The judge glanced at the papers and leaned forward on his elbows, fingers laced together.

'You, Dillon, until recently a sergeant in Her Majesty's Army, brought all your military training to bear in the preparation and pla

From the tiered bank of seats to the judge's left, behind the two rows reserved for the press, Susie's eyes were fixed, dry and unblinking, on her husband's face. Beside her sat Helen, recently blue-rinsed and wearing a new chiffon scarf. Shirley sat two seats along, her head bowed, rocking slightly, a handkerchief pressed to her mouth. Marway and his wife were in the row behind, he in his turban, she with a silk shawl draped over her head. In the back row, an empty seat either side of him, Barry Newman sat with one gloved fingertip stroking the tip of his chin.

'Despite your absence from the scene at the time of the commission of these offences,' the judge continued, addressing Dillon directly, 'I take the view that you are the ringleader in this case, and that the most severe penalty must be reserved for you.' His gaze shifted to include the others. 'I have taken into account your exemplary military records, having heard from the many character witnesses that you have called. I'm sadly aware that all three of you have fought bravely for your country and have been decorated. I am also aware that none of you has appeared either before a court martial, or since your discharge from the Forces before a civilian court.'

The judge leaned back and straightened up in his chair. His voice straightened up too, stood to attention.

'For offences of this sort the court has no alternative but to pass an immediate prison sentence. That sentence must reflect the gravity of the offences, and it is all the more sad in this case that none of you has had the courage to plead guilty, despite overwhelming evidence against you.'

Dillon stood hands by his sides, Harry and Cliff either side of him. Since rising none of them had moved a muscle. Three uniformed officers stood directly behind the three men. In the well of the court, Detective Chief Inspector Jenkins watched the faces of the three leading actors in the drama. It had unfolded beautifully, he couldn't have written it better himself. Now he was anticipating with great relish the climax to the third act.

'Morgan, I take the view that your part in these offences was as culpable as Travers, but nonetheless I take into account your youth, and for the offence of conspiracy to steal I sentence you to six years' imprisonment and three years' concurrent in respect of the possession of the firearm. Take him down.'

Cliff's knees buckled. He might have fallen but for the officer, who gripped his arm and supported him. In a state of total shock, Cliff was too stu

'Travers, you will serve a sentence of eight years' imprisonment for conspiracy with three years' concurrent for possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence. Take him down.'

Harry glared. At everyone – judge, court, Jenkins, reporters, the whole swinish, double-talking, fixing, finagling, fucking lot of them. His final verdict as his head disappeared below the level of the dock was one enraged bellow of defiance.

'Bastards!!!'

Alone in the dock, Dillon awaited his fate. Susie's wedding ring cut into her flesh as she gripped her mother's hand. Two rows behind, gaunt face completely impassive, Newman stroked his chin.

'Dillon, the sentence of this court for conspiracy to steal is that you shall serve nine years' imprisonment; for possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, three years to run concurrent. Take him down.'